Here’s a thought that’s pestering me today: If man is completely mortal, souless and given but one fairly brief stint at living on this planet, what is the purpose and goal of progress? Shouldn’t we be touching and changing as little as possible in our environment and leave it clean and just as we found it for the next guy?
Of course if you have children then you’re into making it a better world for them. And if you’re truly a magnanimous entity–which, btw, if there is no form of a god or judgement then your actions are a completely altruistic venture or a very disappointing one, depending on your belief–and care about mankind as a whole, then yes, make life easier than you’ve had it. Easier via technology, more interesting via travel and invention, and most important, happier. That last one’s the toughie, for even discounting peace of mind in warless times, and people being nicer, there’s still hunger and poverty to wipe out before you even tackle crime.
What is better or worse? What is the standard we’re going by? Obviously, no one left hungry or cold, no one beaten or subservient to the will of another, a chicken in every pot–not to be flippant, but obviously, these are what we’d be striving for for all people. But we’re wrecking some things as we go and these things aren’t repairable. Like forest and clean water and untainted animals and fish. At what point in our history was it maybe time to stop? Ever? Does the future look any better?
Then too, there are the philosophers, Aristotle, Boethius, Plato, Augustine, and all who followed who claim that the truest form of happiness is not to be found from worldly things, but rather from knowledge or a belief in the spirit. Boy, if they’re wrong, they sure wasted their x number of years on earth.
But then, each of them made it a better place for all who rented the space after them.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
Whenever I get deep like you are just now, I think “Brady Bunch” moralizing.
Then it all makes sense.